Another Huge Shale Discovery

In a market where most oil companies are finding it difficult to maintain their production levels because of resource depletion, Anadarko's (NYSE: APC) find of a huge reservoir in Colorado's Wattenberg is a big deal for the company, and for the industry.

Hitting pay dirtThe discovery is considered one of the largest in recent years. The reservoir is expected to hold more than 1 billion barrels of recoverable oil and natural gas, which is mind-blowing and places Wattenberg in the league of major shale plays like Bakken and Eagle Ford.

Anadarko is confident it can drill 1,200 to 2,700 wells in northeast Colorado and expects an average annual production growth rate of 20% from the area between 2010 and 2012. The fact that Anadarko also operates pipelines and gas processing plants in the region gives it an added advantage.

The find can help Anadarko turn its fortune. At the end of last year, Anadarko had 2.42 billion barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves. The Colorado discovery, along with the discovery of 10 trillion cubic feet of gas off the East Africa coast, assures Anadarko a longer field life and provides a great opportunity to increase production.

The bigger pictureShale field finds have revived U.S. oil and gas output after four decades of decline. The advent of new technologies, including horizontal drilling of wells and hydraulic fracturing, is the main reason behind such huge discoveries. Anadarko, along with peers CarrizoOil & Gas (NYSE: CRZO) and Noble Energy (NYSE: NBL) , has been putting the latest technology to use in the Wattenberg fields. The company also holds leases in Wyoming, where it is evaluating drilling prospects. These mean machines are expected to boost North American oil production and may even double it by 2025, although environmental concerns may shrink the projected expansion.

Foolish takeawayThe discovery has boosted Anadarko's prospects by guaranteeing higher production and increased field life. The Wyoming field may also turn out to be a high-reserve area.

To stay updated on how far Anadarko will be able to boost output, click here to add the stock to your personalized stock watchlist. It's free, and it helps you stay updated on news and analysis on your favorite companies.

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